If your blood
sugar drops very low (usually below 20 mg/dL) and you do not get help, you
could become confused or drowsy or even lose consciousness and possibly die. If
you are pregnant, your baby could be harmed.

Low blood sugar can
develop if you take too much insulin, do not eat enough food or skip meals,
exercise without eating enough, or drink too much alcohol (especially on an
empty stomach).

You can usually treat mild—and sometimes
moderate—low blood sugar by eating something that contains
sugar.

You should teach your friends and coworkers what to do if
your blood sugar is very low.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) means that the level of sugar (glucose) in
your blood has dropped below what your body needs to function normally. When
your blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dL, you may have
symptoms, such as feeling tired, weak, or shaky.
Symptoms of low blood sugar can develop
quickly.

If your blood sugar level drops just slightly below your target
range, you may have symptoms of mild low blood sugar. If you eat
something that contains sugar, these symptoms may last
only a short time. If you have had diabetes for many years, you may not always
notice symptoms of mild low blood sugar. This is called
hypoglycemia unawareness.

If
your blood sugar level drops very low (usually below 20 mg/dL), you may lose
consciousness or have a seizure. If you have symptoms of severe low blood
sugar, you need medical care immediately.

Sometimes people with diabetes have low blood sugar levels
during the night. If your blood sugar level drops during the night, you may
wake up in a cold sweat and feel weak or you may sleep through it. Your body
may use stored sugar to raise your blood sugar level back toward your target
range. If this happens, you most likely will wake up in the morning with a
headache and possibly high blood sugar.

Take certain
medicines that lower blood sugar. Some medicines that
you can buy without a prescription can affect blood sugar levels. Talk with
your doctor about your prescription and nonprescription medicines and whether
they may increase your risk of developing very low blood sugar levels.

You may have symptoms of low blood sugar if your blood
sugar drops from a high level to a lower level. For example, if your blood
sugar level has been higher than 300 mg/dL for a week or so and the level drops
suddenly to 100 mg/dL, you may have symptoms of low blood sugar. But if you
have had diabetes for many years, you may not have symptoms of low blood sugar
until your blood sugar level is very low.

Test Your Knowledge

Low blood sugar means that the level of sugar in the
blood has dropped below what the body needs to function normally (usually below
70 mg/dL).

Low blood sugar means that the level of sugar
in the blood has dropped below what the body needs to function normally,
usually below 70 mg/dL. When your blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dL, you may have symptoms, such as feeling tired, weak, or shaky.

Low blood sugar does mean that the
level of sugar in the blood has dropped below what the body needs to function
normally, usually below 70 mg/dL. When your blood sugar level drops below 70
mg/dL, you may have symptoms, such as feeling tired, weak, or
shaky.

A very low blood sugar level (below 20 mg/dL) is an
emergency that requires immediate care.

If untreated, very low blood sugar can lead to serious illness and
death.

When your blood sugar level falls below 70 mg/dL (55 mg/dL
if you are pregnant), your body reacts like it does when you feel very afraid,
angry, or anxious. You may feel weak, shaky, and/or sweaty. But if you eat
something that contains sugar, your blood sugar level
most likely will rise. An emergency likely will not develop, and you will not
have any long-lasting effects from having low blood sugar.

If your
blood sugar continues to drop (below 40 mg/dL), your brain may receive too
little sugar to work properly and your judgment and muscle coordination will be
affected. These are symptoms of moderate low blood sugar. You may not realize
your blood sugar is too low, and you may not be aware that you need to eat food
with sugar to raise the level. Someone else may have to help you eat or drink
something to raise your blood sugar level. If you do not get help, you could
get in an accident if you are driving a car or operating other machinery. If
you are pregnant, low blood sugar can harm your baby.

If your
blood sugar continues to drop (below 20 mg/dL), you can lose consciousness. If
you do not receive prompt emergency care, you may have a
seizure.

A low blood sugar level may
soon recur, even though it has been treated. Check your blood sugar often after
a low level has been treated to make sure your blood sugar returns to
normal.

If your blood sugar level drops to 20 mg/dL or
lower, you will not act like you are okay. Blood sugar levels in people who take insulin can
drop very low rapidly (in 10 to 15 minutes). If your blood sugar level drops to 20 mg/dL or lower, you can fall
into a coma and possibly die.

If your blood sugar level drops to 20 mg/dL or
lower, you will not be able to eat or drink something to raise it. Someone else will need to help you eat or drink something or you may
need emergency medical help. If your blood sugar level
drops to 20 mg/dL or lower, you can fall into a coma and possibly die. Blood
sugar levels in people who take insulin can drop very low rapidly (in 10 to 15
minutes).

Be prepared

Always be prepared for the possibility of having a
low blood sugar level.

Keep some quick-sugar foods with you at all
times. If you are at home, you will probably already have something close at
hand that contains sugar, such as table sugar or fruit juice. Carry some hard
candy or glucose tablets with you when you are away from home. Quick-sugar foods are foods you need to eat to raise your blood sugar. These foods will
help raise your blood sugar by about 30 mg/dL in 15 minutes.

Know
the symptoms of low blood sugar, such as sweating, blurred vision, and confusion. Post a list of the
symptoms where you will see it
often, and carry a copy in your wallet or purse. Add any symptoms you have
noticed that may not be on the list. Be sure that your partner (and others)
knows your early symptoms, including the signs of low blood sugar at
night.

Wear medical identification. Always wear medical
identification, such as a
medical alert bracelet, to let people know that you have diabetes. In case your
blood sugar drops very low and you need help, people will know that you have
diabetes and will get help for you if necessary.

Keep
glucagon on hand. If you become unconscious when your
blood sugar is very low, someone may need to give you a shot of glucagon to
raise your blood sugar. Be sure someone knows how to give you the shot. Have
the person practice by giving you your insulin shot once or twice a month. This
will help the person be confident if he or she has to give you a shot of
glucagon in an emergency. Keep the instructions for
how to give glucagon with the medicine. Also, check the expiration date on
your glucagon. Most kits need to be replaced every 6 months.

Teach
others (at work and at home) how to check your blood sugar in case you cannot
check it yourself. Have instructions for how to use your blood sugar (glucose)
meter to check your blood sugar with the meter so the person can review the
instructions.

Teach other people (at work and at home) what to do
in case your blood sugar becomes very low. Post information on
emergency care for low blood sugar in a convenient
place at home and at work. Go over with others the steps they need to take when
your blood sugar is very low.

Treat low blood sugar early

Check your blood sugar often. If you have had
diabetes for many years, you may not have symptoms until your blood sugar is
very low. Checking your blood sugar regularly and also whenever you think it
may be low will take the guesswork out of treating low blood sugar
levels.

Follow your doctor's instructions for
dealing with low blood sugar when you first
develop your symptoms of low blood sugar or when your blood sugar level is
below 70 mg/dL. Encourage others to tell you if they notice you are developing
signs of low blood sugar.

Keep a record(What is a PDF document?) of low blood sugar levels. Write down your symptoms
and how you treated your low blood sugar. Look for patterns in when and what you ate, your activity (especially if more than usual), and medicine that could have caused the low blood sugar.

Notify your doctor. Let her or him know if you are having low
blood sugar problems. Your insulin dosage may need to be adjusted.

Test Your Knowledge

To be prepared for a low blood sugar emergency,
carrying insulin won't help. A dose of insulin
will make your blood sugar drop lower. To be prepared
for a low blood sugar emergency, always have some quick-sugar foods with
you.

To treat low blood sugar before it becomes an
emergency, you do not need to take an extra dose of insulin. An extra dose of insulin will make your blood sugar drop lower. Eat some food that contains sugar to raise your blood
sugar level.

To treat low blood sugar before it becomes an
emergency, you should not go to sleep and rest. Your
blood sugar level may continue to drop, leading to an emergency. Eat some food that contains sugar to raise your blood
sugar.

Now that you have read this
information, you are ready to start dealing with low blood sugar levels
effectively.

Talk with your health professional

If you have questions about this
information, take it with you when you visit your doctor or
certified diabetes educator. You may want to write down any questions you have.

If you
don't already have glucagon at home, ask your doctor for a prescription. Make
sure someone knows how to give you a glucagon shot if an emergency develops.
You may want to have two glucagon kits so that if one gets used, you have a
backup.

If you would like more information on dealing with low
blood sugar levels, the following resources are available:

Organization

American Diabetes Association (ADA)

1701 North Beauregard Street

Alexandria, VA 22311

Phone:

1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)

Email:

AskADA@diabetes.org

Web Address:

www.diabetes.org

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is a national organization
for health professionals and consumers. Almost every state has a local office.
ADA sets the standards for the care of people with diabetes. Its focus is on
research for the prevention and treatment of all types of diabetes. ADA
provides patient and professional education mainly through its publications,
which include the monthly magazine Diabetes Forecast,
books, brochures, cookbooks and meal planning guides, and pamphlets. ADA also
provides information for parents about caring for a child with diabetes.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.